Union County Offers Fun Recycling Lessons with “Talkin’ Trash”

Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speaks about recycling with students during a visit to the “Talkin’ Trash” program.
Credits: Jim Lowney/ County of Union

UNION COUNTY, NJ - Hundreds of Union County students are learning all about recycling and conservation this spring thanks to “Talkin’ Trash,” a free new classroom program coordinated by Union County through a recycling grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“Talkin’ Trash is a fun way to help young students see that they can make a big difference,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It’s a great program that helps the next generation of Union County citizens appreciate how we can all care for and protect our environment.”

Talkin’ Trash is a 45-minute program for grades 1-5 conducted by Patricia Lynn, an experienced certified municipal recycling coordinator and former elementary school teacher.

The program is part of Chairman Bergen’s 2016 Union County Means Green initiative, which includes environmental outreach for schools, local businesses and the general public.

“Ms. Lynn is an expert and she really encourages the students to think about important issues in an exciting, positive way,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowlaski, who visited the program at the Brunner School in Scotch Plains last week. “It was inspiring to see how the class responded as she guided them through hands-on activities and team learning.”

So far, seven school districts in Union County have experienced the program, reaching over 600 students.

Recycling is mandatory in New Jersey, and Union County has been a leader in the recycling field for nearly 30 years. In 2013, the last year for which figures are available, Union County achieved a 61% recycling rate, one of the highest among New Jersey counties.

For additional information about Talkin’ Trash or to schedule a program this spring, schools can email Patricia Lynn at plynn9021@gmail.com.

For information on all Union County recycling programs, including new scrap metal drop-off locations, visit online at ucnj.org/recycling.

(Photo caption: Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski speaks about recycling with third graders at the Brunner School in Scotch Plains during a visit to the “Talkin’ Trash” program, a traveling lesson available free to schools throughout Union County. Photo by Jim Lowney/ County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors of all ages to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of National Trails Day at the Watchung Reservation on Saturday, June 2, where the County’s Trailside Nature & Science Center will host four different guided hikes and an Adopt-a-Trail volunteer activity along with special programs throughout the day for all ages. The ...

UNION COUNTY, NJ - The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce that the rainbow flag will fly for the first time at the Union County Courthouse in recognition of June as LGBTQ Pride Month. A public Pride Flag Raising Ceremony event is planned for Monday, June 4 at 1:00 P.M. on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse on Broad Street in ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ -- Union Catholic's Performing Arts Company received a great honor when it was chosen for the Outstanding Achievement in Choreography or Movement for its Fall Play, Peter and the Starcatcher, at Montclair State University's Theater Awards last Monday.

Ms. Jeanette Rudnicki, a 2009 graduate of Union Catholic, was the choreographer. UC senior Angeline Carlo, who lives in ...

CRANFORD – This summer the Office of Continuing Education at Union County College is offering the 2018 College for Teens program sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The program is offered for two sessions. Each session will be held for two weeks and will meet from Monday through Thursday. During the session students have the chance to explore and research careers ...

When Brianna Cagan’s dad was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, she and her family wanted to do something meaningful to fund cancer research. Brianna, her mom Sue Kelly, and their friends started a started a Relay For Life team called “Pearly Girls.” Seven years later, the high school freshman is the American Cancer Society’s top individual fundraiser for the Berkeley ...

(TRENTON) – Two bills sponsored by Assembly Democrats Wayne DeAngelo, Daniel Benson, and Benjie Wimberly to improve operations of public water systems in order to better serve customers continue to advance in the Assembly.

These two measures are among other legislation developed to address long-standing recruitment concerns regarding staff operations at Trenton Water ...

The weather cooperated this weekend, so I went for more than one hike. After all, there are only just over fifty days before my walk to Maine commences, so why not.

This Saturday, some friends dragged me away from housecleaning (thank you!) for a quick jaunt through Watchung Reservation. While we were there, we ran into two individuals from Westfield; the cosplayers introduced themselves ...

Friday, March 30 was Take a Walk in the Park Day, so I did. I really didn't have an excuse to not do so; the sun was shining, I had the day off, and I had no plans for the rest of the day. So after a session with Abbe, my trainer at LifeTime Fitness, I made the short trip to Lake Surprise in Watchung Reservation.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Holy Savior Academy’s (HSA) ‘Biddy’ Cheerleading Squad, the Storm, recently completed their 2017-2018 season with a first place win in their division at Cheerfest. Held May 12 at Six Flags Great Adventure, the annual multi-state competition featured teams from throughout New Jersey.

Home gardeners and property managers who are interested in joining the native plant movement can get resources and information – and plants – through the Union County “Plant Swap & Shop” event on Thursday evening, June 7, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Union County Demonstration Garden in the Watchung Reservation.

PATERSON, NJ- During their playing days Carlos Valderama and Julio Uribe led their teams to victory in some of the largest soccer stadiums across the globe. On Saturday, the men, known better as “El Pibe” and Uribe, brought their talents to Paterson’s Baurele Field.

The rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the nearly 500 fans who turned out to watch these beloved players ...

This week's feature will focus on TAPinto Paterson's franchisee, Steve Lenox. Find out how the current owner of a public affairs firm went from a former State Director for Senator Frank Lautenberg to a proud TAPinto franchisee for New Jersey's third largest city.

SUMMIT, NJ – The Summit Playhouse provides a stellar production of a much loved classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

The Harper Lee novel, later a Gregory Peck film and now a stage production, retains all the warmth, intensity and integrity that made it such an appealing hit in the 1960s. And there will be a new production on Broadway in December with a script by Aaron Sorkin ...

What is the “final frontier” on the Earth's surface? Many people would say Alaska, the 49th state, which was added to the United States fifty years ago. Once one has traveled to that remote land, it is impossible to forget the magnificence of the terrain and beasts. Floating by ship in Glacier Bay, surrounded by ...

The Luna Stage, a Jersey theater gem, chose to revive its 1995 world premiere drama, The Man in Room 306, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Starring Jamil A.C. Mangan as Dr. King, this 90 minute production portrays Dr. King in the last hours of his life as he struggles to write a speech for the Poor ...

I wanted to like Into the Water by Paula Hawkins because I had enjoyed her previous novel, The Girl on the Train, which was a suspenseful thriller. However, when I finished reading the first part of the Into the Water, I realized that I had not absorbed anything that was happening in the story. I blamed myself for not paying ...

How does a reviewer do justice to a book called “the great American novel”? I first read Johnny Got His Gun during the Viet Nam war, when young people, nationwide, were protesting fighting in a war that was a senseless waste of life; a war in which the United States had no business participating.

I didn't get my Composition and Literature teacher at Montclair State College at all. A crusty old man with a dour disposition, Mr. Smith always seemed angry and rude. He appropriately intimidated freshmen, even me, an English major, who found this common core course beneath my dignity. Frankly, as a graduate of Highland Park High School, and a survivor of Mrs.

For each of the twelve million victims murdered during World War II there is a gutwrenching story to be told. I have read hundreds of memoirs, biographies, plays, and novels that recount the stories of the martyrs; some are exceptional, some are fair. The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa, an award-winning journalist, ...